Forestry management device

ABSTRACT

A forestry management device is provided including processing circuitry configured to receive an indication of a selected tree, receive selected tree location data associated with the selected tree, receive operator location data associated with an operator, and cause information associated with the selected tree to be displayed on a wearable computing device.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Example embodiments generally relate to forestry management and, moreparticularly, relate to a forestry management device configured toprovide information associated with a selected tree on a wearablecomputing device.

BACKGROUND

Typically, thinning trees in a forest may be accomplished by cuttingselected trees. Personnel may survey or chart the trees in the forestand select specific trees for cutting based on size, type, growthfeatures, such as straightness, or the like. The selected tree may bemarked on a physical site map, physically marked, or the like, toindicate the trees which have been selected for cutting. Loggers maylocate and cut the trees using saws, harvesters, or the like.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF SOME EXAMPLES

In an example embodiment, a forestry management device is providedincluding processing circuitry configured to receive an indication of aselected tree, receive selected tree location data associated with theselected tree, receive operator location data associated with anoperator from a wearable computing device, and cause informationassociated with the selected tree to be displayed on the wearablecomputing device based on the operator location data.

In another example embodiment, a forestry management system is providedincluding at least one wearable computing device and a forestrymanagement device. The forestry management device may include processingcircuitry configured to receive an indication of a selected tree,receive selected tree location data associated with the selected tree,receive operator location data associated with an operator from the atleast one wearable computing device, and cause information associatedwith the selected tree to be displayed on a user interface of the atleast one wearable computing device based on the operator location data.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will nowbe made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn toscale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a system according to an exampleembodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of one example of onboard electronicsor processing circuitry that may be used in connection with employmentof an example embodiment;

FIG. 3 illustrates a concept diagram of operation of the system inrelation to a forest according to an example embodiment;

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate user interface displays according to exampleembodiments; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of a method according to an exampleembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Some example embodiments now will be described more fully hereinafterwith reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not allexample embodiments are shown. Indeed, the examples described andpictured herein should not be construed as being limiting as to thescope, applicability or configuration of the present disclosure. Rather,these example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure willsatisfy applicable legal requirements. Like reference numerals refer tolike elements throughout. Furthermore, as used herein, the term “or” isto be interpreted as a logical operator that results in true wheneverone or more of its operands are true. As used herein, operable couplingshould be understood to relate to direct or indirect connection that, ineither case, enables functional interconnection of components that areoperably coupled to each other.

In an example embodiment, a forestry management device may be providedto cause an information associated with the selected tree to bedisplayed on a wearable device or wearable computing device, such as ahelmet visor or safety glasses. In some example embodiments, theindication may include a virtual reality overlay. The forest managementdevice may base the information associated with the selected tree onreceived location data and/or orientation data associated with theselected tree and an operator.

In an example embodiment, the forestry management device may receivelocation data associated with a plurality of trees including theselected tree. The forest management device may generate a tree mapindicating the location of the selected tree and other trees. The treemap may be displayed on the wearable computing device.

In some example embodiments, the forestry management device may receivetree data associated with one or more trees, such as type, size growthfeatures, or the like. The forestry management device may determine afelling direction based on the location of the selected tree, thelocation of other trees, the tree data, or the like. In some instancesthe forestry management device may determine a cutting position, e.g. asafe location for the operator to perform the cutting operation, basedon the felling direction, tree data, selected tree location, other treelocation or the like. The forestry management device of an exampleembodiment may determine a cutting location on the selected tree basedon the tree data. The cutting location may include the height, angle,direction, or the like for the cutting operation. The felling direction,cutting position and/or the cutting location may be displayed on thewearable computing device.

In some example embodiments, the forestry management device may receivean indication of a worker location, e.g. another person in the cuttingarea. The forestry management device may compare the worker location toa safety threshold. The forestry management device may cause the workerlocation, safety thresholds, or a safety indication to be displayed onthe wearable computing device. In some example embodiments, the safetyindication may be displayed based on the worker location failing tosatisfy the safety threshold.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example system in which an embodiment of thepresent invention may be employed. In this regard, FIG. 1 illustrates ageneric example of a system in which various devices that are examplesof construction equipment may utilize a network for the performance offorestry management according to an example embodiment. As shown in FIG.1 , a system 10 according to an example embodiment may include one ormore client devices (e.g. wearable computing devices 20 and datacollection devices 50). Notably, although FIG. 1 illustrates fourdevices 20, 50 it should be appreciated that many more devices 20, 50may be included in some embodiments and thus, the four devices 20, 50 ofFIG. 1 are simply used to illustrate a multiplicity of devices 20, 50and the number of devices 20, 50 is in no way limiting to other exampleembodiments. In this regard, example embodiments are scalable toinclusion of any number of devices 20, 50 being tied into the system 10.Moreover, it should be appreciated that FIG. 1 illustrates one exampleembodiment in which shared resources may be allocated within a communityof networked devices (e.g. devices 20, 50). However, it should beappreciated that the architecture of various example embodiments mayvary. Thus, the example of FIG. 1 is merely provided for ease ofexplanation of one example embodiment and should not be considered to belimiting with respect to the architecture of the system 10. Accordingly,for example, some embodiments may have specific sets of devices 20, 50that are associated with corresponding specific servers that belong toor are utilized by a particular organization, entity or group over asingle network (e.g. network 30). However, in other embodiments,multiple different sets of devices 20, 50 may be enabled to access otherservers associated with different organizations, entities or groups viathe same or a different network.

The devices 20, 50 may, in some cases, each include sensory, computingand/or communication devices associated with different devices 20, 50that belong to or are associated with a single organization. In anotherexample, a first device 20, 50 may be associated with a first facilityor location of a first organization. Meanwhile, a second device may beassociated with a second facility or location of the first organization.As such, for example, some of the devices 20, 50 may be associated withthe first organization, while other ones of the devices 20, 50 areassociated with a second organization. Thus, for example, the devices20, 50 may be remotely located from each other, collocated, orcombinations thereof. However, in some embodiments, each of the devices20, 50 may be associated with individuals, locations or entitiesassociated with different organizations or merely representingindividual devices.

Each of the wearable computing devices 20 may include a display visor ona safety helmet, glasses, goggles, or the like. The wearable computingdevices 20 may include sensors for monitoring operator location,orientation, field of view, or the like, as discussed below in referenceto FIG. 2 .

Each of the data collection devices 50 may include satellite imagecapturing devices, ground or aerial drones, radar, LIDAR survey devices,or the like. In some example embodiments, the data collection devices 50may include a tablet computer, personal digital assistant, smart phone,smart watch or the like. The data collection devices 50 may includesensors or a sensor network, such as location sensors, cameras,scanners, or the like and/or a user interface, as discussed below inreference to FIG. 2 . In an example embodiment, the sensors may beassociated with chainsaws, harvesters, or the like.

In an example embodiment, each of the devices 20, 50 may include onboardcircuitry 22 which may include or otherwise be embodied as a computingdevice (e.g. a processor, microcontroller, processing circuitry, or thelike) capable of communication with a network 30. As such, for example,each one of the devices 20, 50 may include (or otherwise have access to)memory for storing instructions or applications for the performance ofvarious functions and a corresponding processor for executing storedinstructions or applications and a corresponding processor or processingcircuitry. Each one of the devices 20, 50 may also include softwareand/or corresponding hardware (e.g. the onboard circuitry 22) forenabling the performance of the respective functions of the clients asdescribed below. In an example embodiment, one or more of the devices20, 50 may be configured to execute applications or functionsimplemented via software for enabling a respective one of the devices20, 50 to communicate with the network 30 for requesting and/orreceiving information and/or services via the network 30 and/or forproviding data to other devices via the network 30. The information orservices receivable at the devices 20, 50 may include deliverablecomponents (e.g. downloadable software to configure the onboardcircuitry 22 of the devices 20, 50, or information for consumption orutilization at the onboard circuitry 22 of the devices 20, 50).

The network 30 may be a data network, such as a local area network(LAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wide area network (WAN)(e.g. the Internet), and/or the like, which may couple the devices 20,50 to devices such as processing elements (e.g. personal computers,server computers or the like) and/or databases. Communication betweenthe network 30, the devices 20, 50 and the devices or databases (e.g.servers) to which the devices 20, 50 are coupled may be accomplished byeither wired or wireless communication mechanisms and correspondingcommunication protocols.

In an example embodiment, other devices to which the devices 20, 50 maybe coupled via the network 30 may include a server network 32 includingone or more application servers (e.g. application server 40), and/or adatabase server 42, which together may form respective elements of theserver network 32. Although the application server 40 and the databaseserver 42 are each referred to as “servers,” this does not necessarilyimply that they are embodied on separate servers or devices. As such,for example, a single server or device may include both entities and thedatabase server 42 could merely be represented by a database or group ofdatabases physically located on the same server or device as theapplication server 40. The application server 40 may include monitoringcircuitry 44 (which may be similar to or different from the onboardcircuitry 22 of the devices 20, 50) that may include hardware and/orsoftware for configuring the application server 40 to perform variousfunctions. As such, for example, the application server 40 may includeprocessing logic and memory enabling the application server 40 to accessand/or execute stored computer readable instructions for performingvarious functions.

In an example embodiment, one function that may be provided by theapplication server 40 (e.g. via the monitoring circuitry 44) may be theprovision of services relating to causing information associated withthe selected tree to be displayed on a wearable computing device, aswill be described in greater detail below. For example, the applicationserver 40 may be local or remote and configured to receive data from thedevices 20, 50 and process the data to coordinate forestry managementoperations, as described herein. Thus, for example, the onboardcircuitry 22 may be configured to send the data to the applicationserver 40 for the application server 40 to coordinate forestrymanagement operations, or have actions associated therewith (e.g. sendinformation, alerts, or safety interlocks to devices 20, 50). In someembodiments, the application server 40 may be configured to providedevices 20, 50 with instructions (e.g. for execution by the onboardcircuitry 22) for taking prescribed actions when corresponding controldata is received or safety interlocks are met.

The system 10 of FIG. 1 may make adjustments to device 20, 50configurations on the basis of the execution of functionality that isexecuted using either or both of the onboard circuitry 22 and themonitoring circuitry 44. FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram showingcomponents that may be associated with embodiment of the onboardcircuitry 22 and/or the monitoring circuitry 44 according to an exampleembodiment. As shown in FIG. 2 , the onboard circuitry 22 and/or themonitoring circuitry 44 may include or otherwise be embodied as aforestry management device 100. The forestry management device 100 maybe embodied in a wearable computing device 20, a data collection device50, a separate computing device, or be distributed among the devices 20,50, the application server 40, and/or a separate computing device. Theforestry management device 100 may include processing circuitry 110 ofan example embodiment, as described herein. In this regard, for example,the forestry management device 100 may utilize the processing circuitry110 to provide electronic control inputs to one or more functional unitsof the onboard circuitry 22 and/or the monitoring circuitry 44 and toprocess data generated by the one or more functional units regardingvarious indications of device activity (e.g. operational parametersand/or location information) relating to a corresponding one of thedevices 20, 50. In some cases, the processing circuitry 110 may beconfigured to perform data processing, control function execution and/orother processing and management services according to an exampleembodiment. In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 110 may beembodied as a chip or chip set. In other words, the processing circuitry110 may comprise one or more physical packages (e.g. chips) includingmaterials, components and/or wires on a structural assembly (e.g. abaseboard). The structural assembly may provide physical strength,conservation of size, and/or limitation of electrical interaction forcomponent circuitry included thereon. The processing circuitry 110 maytherefore, in some cases, be configured to implement an embodiment ofthe present invention on a single chip or as a single “system on achip.” As such, in some cases, a chip or chipset may constitute meansfor performing one or more operations for providing the functionalitiesdescribed herein.

In an example embodiment, the processing circuitry 110 may include oneor more instances of a processor 112 and memory 114 that may be incommunication with or otherwise control a device interface 120 and, insome cases, a user interface 130. As such, the processing circuitry 110may be embodied as a circuit chip (e.g. an integrated circuit chip)configured (e.g. with hardware, software or a combination of hardwareand software) to perform operations described herein. However, in someembodiments, the processing circuitry 110 may be embodied as a portionof an on-board computer on a device being monitored (e.g. one of thedevices 20, 50), while in other embodiments, the processing circuitry110 may be embodied as a remote computer that monitors device activityfor one or more devices.

The user interface 130 may be in communication with the processingcircuitry 110 to receive an indication of a user input at the userinterface 130 and/or to provide an audible, visual, tactile or otheroutput to the user. As such, the user interface 130 may include, forexample, a display, one or more levers, switches, buttons or keys (e.g.function buttons), and/or other input/output mechanisms. in an exampleembodiment, the display may include the field of view or a portion ofthe field of view of a wearable computing device 20, such as goggles,safety glasses, or safety helmet visor. In an example embodiment, theuser interface 130 may include one or a plurality of lights, a display,a speaker, a tone generator, a vibration unit and/or the like.

The device interface 120 may include one or more interface mechanismsfor enabling communication with other devices (e.g. sensors of a sensornetwork 140, or functional units of the forestry management device 100or other equipment on which an example embodiment may be employed). Insome cases, the device interface 120 may be any means such as a deviceor circuitry embodied in either hardware, or a combination of hardwareand software that is configured to receive and/or transmit data from/tosensors in communication with the processing circuitry 110 via internalcommunication systems of the forestry management device 100. In somecases, the device interface 120 may further include wirelesscommunication equipment (e.g. a one way or two way radio) for at leastcommunicating information from the forestry management device 100 to anetwork and, in the case of a two way radio, in some cases receivinginformation from the network.

The processor 112 may be embodied in a number of different ways. Forexample, the processor 112 may be embodied as various processing meanssuch as one or more of a microprocessor or other processing element, acoprocessor, a controller or various other computing or processingdevices including integrated circuits such as, for example, an ASIC(application specific integrated circuit), an FPGA (field programmablegate array), or the like. In an example embodiment, the processor 112may be configured to execute instructions stored in the memory 114 orotherwise accessible to the processor 112. As such, whether configuredby hardware or by a combination of hardware and software, the processor112 may represent an entity (e.g. physically embodied in circuitry—inthe form of processing circuitry 110) capable of performing operationsaccording to embodiments of the present invention while configuredaccordingly. Thus, for example, when the processor 112 is embodied as anASIC, FPGA or the like, the processor 112 may be specifically configuredhardware for conducting the operations described herein. Alternatively,as another example, when the processor 112 is embodied as an executor ofsoftware instructions, the instructions may specifically configure theprocessor 112 to perform the operations described herein.

In an example embodiment, the processor 112 (or the processing circuitry110) may be embodied as, include or otherwise control the operation ofthe forestry management device 100 based on inputs received by theprocessing circuitry 110. As such, in some embodiments, the processor112 (or the processing circuitry 110) may be said to cause each of theoperations described in connection with the forestry management device100 in relation to operation the forestry management device 100 relativeto undertaking the corresponding functionalities associated therewithresponsive to execution of instructions or algorithms configuring theprocessor 112 (or processing circuitry 110) accordingly.

In an example embodiment, the memory 114 may include one or morenon-transitory memory devices such as, for example, volatile and/ornon-volatile memory that may be either fixed or removable. The memory114 may be configured to store information, data, applications,instructions or the like for enabling the processing circuitry 110 tocarry out various functions in accordance with example embodiments ofthe present invention. For example, the memory 114 could be configuredto buffer input data for processing by the processor 112. Additionallyor alternatively, the memory 114 could be configured to storeinstructions for execution by the processor 112. As yet anotheralternative or additional capability, the memory 114 may include one ormore databases that may store a variety of data sets responsive to inputfrom the sensor network 140, the forestry management device 100, or anyother functional units that may be associated with the forestrymanagement device 100. Among the contents of the memory 114,applications may be stored for execution by the processor 112 in orderto carry out the functionality associated with each respectiveapplication.

In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 110 may communicate withelectronic components and/or sensors of the sensor network 140 (e.g.sensors that measure variable values related to device location,orientation, field of view, and/or environment, such as tree data,and/or the like, and/or sensors that measure device movement employingmovement sensor circuitry) of the device 20, 50 via the device interface120. In one embodiment, sensors of a sensor network 140 of one or moreones of the devices 20, 50 may communicate with the processing circuitry110 of a remote monitoring computer via the network 30 and the deviceinterface 120 using wireless communication or by downloading data thatis transferred using a removable memory device that is first incommunication with the construction device 20 to load data indicative ofdevice activity, and is then (e.g. via the device interface 120) incommunication with the remote monitoring computer (e.g. associated withthe monitoring circuitry 44).

In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 110 may communicate withmovement sensor circuitry of the devices 20, 50 (e.g. when theprocessing circuitry 110 is implemented as the onboard circuitry 22), ormay receive information indicative of device location from movementsensor circuitry of one or more devices being monitored (e.g. when theprocessing circuitry is implemented as the monitoring circuitry 44). Themovement sensor circuitry may include movement sensors (e.g. portions ofthe sensor network 140) such as one or more accelerometers and/orgyroscopes, or may include global positioning system (GPS) or otherlocation determining equipment.

The movement sensor circuitry (if employed) may be configured to provideindications of movement of the devices 20, 50 based on data provided bythe one or more accelerometers and/or gyroscopes, and/or based on GPS orlocal position determining capabilities. In other words, the movementsensor circuitry may be configured to detect movement of the devices 20,50 based on inertia-related measurements or other location determininginformation. In some example embodiments, the movement sensor circuitrymay include orientation sensors, configured to detect the orientation ofa device, such as the orientation and/or field of view of the wearablecomputing device 20, relative to the determined location or a referencepoint/structure at the determined location.

FIG. 3 illustrates a concept diagram of operation of the system inrelation to a forest 300 according to an example embodiment. The forest300 may be any area including one or more trees 302 which may be cut forharvesting, thinning, conservation, or the like. In an exampleembodiment, one or more data collection devices 50 may receive treedata, from one or more sensors, such as a portion of the sensor network140. The data collection devices 50 may include satellite imagecapturing devices, ground based drones, aerial drones, survey devices,or the like. The sensors may include an aerial imager or ground basedimager, such as captured by a still or motion camera, a radar, LIDAR, orthe like. The data captured by the sensors may be used to generate a twodimensional or three dimensional model of the forest 300. The datacollection device 50, or the forest management device 100, may determinethe tree data based on the two dimensional or three dimensional model.The tree data may include the tree type; tree dimensions, such asheight, circumference, diameter; growth features, such as branches,angles of growth, or the like; or any other data associated with one ormore of the trees 302 in the forest 300.

The forest management device 100 may receive an indication of a selectedtree 304. The forest management device 100 may identify one or moreselected trees 304 automatically, based on tree data, such as aspecified type and height, or manually based on user input identifyingselected tree 304, such as via the user interface 130. For example, theforest management device 100 may receive the indication of a selectedtree 304 based on a user identifying, e.g. marking” the selected tree304 with the data collection device 50 or wearable computing device 20user interface 130. Location data and orientation data indicative of anarea proximate to the data collection device 50 or wearable computingdevice 20 may be received by the forest management device 100 and beutilized as selected tree location data.

The forestry management device 100 may receive selected tree locationdata associated with the selected tree 304. The selected tree locationdata may be an actual location, such as a set of GPS coordinates, or anapproximate location, derived from location sensors, such as a portionof the sensor network 140, or associated with a reference pointidentified by the data collection device 50.

The forest management device 100 may also receive operator location dataassociated with an operator 313. The operator location data may includelocation, orientation, and/or field of view. The operator location maybe an actual location or an approximate location derived from locationsensors, such as a portion of the sensor network 140. The orientationmay include the direction the operator 313 is facing. The field of viewmay be the determined based on the orientation of the operator 313, or acaptured image from the wearable computing device 20.

In an example embodiment, the forestry management device 100 may causeinformation associated with the selected tree 304 to be displayed on theuser interface 130 of the wearable computing device 20. The informationassociated with the selected tree 304 may include a visual overlay inthe field of view of the operator 313, e.g. augmented reality, forexample, a projection in the field of view of the wearable computingdevice 20, such as a visor or glasses. In an embodiment, in which thewearable computing device 20 includes a camera to capture an image, theinformation associated with the selected tree 304 may be overlaid on thecaptured image as displayed on the user interface 130 of the wearablecomputing device 20. The information associated with the selected tree304 may include highlighting, outlining, or otherwise contrasting theselected tree 304 from other areas of the field of view, such as othertrees 302, as depicted in user interface display 400 depicted in FIG.4A. In an example embodiment, the information associated with theselected tree 304 may be pushed to a heads-up display.

In an example embodiment, the forestry management device 100 may receiveother tree location data associated with other trees 302 of the forest300. The other tree location data may be an actual location or proximatelocation of the other trees derived from sensor data, such as a portionof the sensor network 140. The forest management device 100 may generatea tree map including at least the selected tree 304 and one or moreother trees 302. In an example embodiment, the forest management device100 may generate a suggested route 312 from a current operator locationto the selected tree 304. The suggested route 312 may be particularlyuseful in an example in which a harvester 310 or other vehicle maytraverse the forest 300. In some example embodiments, the forestmanagement device 100 may cause the tree map and/or the suggested 312route to be displayed on the user interface 130 of the wearablecomputing device 20.

In an example embodiment, the forestry management device 100 may receiveforest boundary data 314, such as a designated cutting area, propertylines, roads, or the like. The forestry management device 100 may causethe boundary data 314 to be displayed on the user interface 130, such asa portion of or in association with the tree map. The boundary data 314may be used in the determination of a felling direction, as discussedbelow, to prevent felling of trees outside of the boundary or acrossroads.

Turning to the example user interface displays 400 of FIGS. 4A and 4B,the forestry management device 100 may determine a felling direction.The felling direction may be based on the location of the selected tree304, the location of the other trees 302, the tree data associated withthe selected tree 304, or the like. In an example embodiment, theselected tree may be highlighted in a first color, such as red, andother trees 302 may be highlighted in a second color, such as green, todifferentiate the selected tree 304 form the other trees 302 andsurrounding objects. Additionally or alternatively, the selected tree304 may be differentiated from the surrounding objects by bolding,blinking, focus, or the like. The user interface display 400 may includeinformation associated with the selected tree 304 and the fellingdirection, as depicted in FIG. 4B.

In some example embodiments, the forest management device 100 maydetermine a cutting position 405. The cutting position 405 may be a safeposition for the operator 313 to occupy during the cutting operationbased on the felling direction, selected tree location, other treelocation, tree data associated with the selected tree 304, or the like.The forest management device 100 may cause the cutting position 405 tobe displayed on the user interface 130. Additionally in someembodiments, the forestry management device 100 may cause the operatorlocation data 404 to be displayed in relation to the selected tree 302,the felling direction, and/or the cutting position 405.

In some example embodiments, the forestry management device 100 mayreceive worker location data 402 associated with one or more workers,e.g. persons other than the operator 313 within the forest 300. Theworker location data 402 may be substantially similar to the operatorlocation data 404. Additionally or alternatively, the forest managementdevice 100 may receive ultra wide band (UWB) or other radio basedranging for use as worker location data 402. The forestry managementdevice 100 may cause the worker location data 402 to be displayed on theuser interface 130 of the wearable computing device 20. In an exampleembodiment, the forestry management device 100 may determine apredetermined safety threshold 407. The predetermined safety threshold407 may include one or more areas, which may be unsafe during thecutting operation, e.g. the selected tree 304 may fall or debris fromthe selected tree 304 may fall in these areas. The predetermined safetythreshold 407 may be based on the location of the selected tree 304, thelocation of the other trees 302, tree data, felling direction, of thelike. In some example embodiments, the forest management device 100 maycause the predetermined safety threshold 407 to be displayed on the userinterface 130 of the wearable computing device 20.

In an example embodiment, the forestry management device 100 may causereceived input from the user interface 130 to adjust the fellingdirection. The user optimization of the felling direction may allow forbetter ergonomics for an operator, accessibility of a harvester and/or aforwarder.

In an example embodiment, the forestry management device 100 may definethe predetermined safety threshold area by generating a geometric shapearound a reference point, e.g. the selected tree 304. The geometricshape may be a circle, a square, polygon or the like. The predeterminedsafety threshold may be determined based on tree data associated withthe selected tree, such as type of tree, height, circumference,diameter, growth features, or the like. In some example embodiments, thepredetermined safety threshold may also account for topology, such ashills which may cause a felled tree to roll. The forestry managementdevice 100 may define additional area in the predetermined safetythreshold to prevent injury from a rolling tree.

Additionally or alternatively, in some example embodiments, the forestrymanagement device 100 may compare the worker location data 402 to thepredetermined safety threshold 407. The forestry management device 100may cause a safety indication to be displayed on the user interface 130of the wearable computing device 20, in an instance in which workerlocation data fails to satisfy the predetermined safety threshold 407,e.g. is within the unsafe area. The safety indication may include awarning dialog box, a flashing light, highlighting the worker locationdata, or the like.

Returning to the user interface display 400 depicted in FIG. 4A, theforestry management device 100 may determine one or more cuttinglocations 406 on the selected tree 304. The cutting location 406 mayinclude the height, angle direction or the like of a cutting operationof the selected tree 304. The cutting location 406 may be based on theselected tree 304, location data, location data for other trees 302,tree data, felling direction or the like. The forest management device100 may cause the cutting location 406 to be displayed on the userinterface 130 of the wearable computing device 20. In one exampleembodiment, the cutting location 406 may include a cutting line overlaidon the selected tree 304 in the field of view.

In an example embodiment the forestry management device 100 may receivepreferred lumber dimension data, indicative of a customer request orhigh value lumber products, including wood type, length, width,thickness, or the like. The selected tree 304 and/or the cut locationsmay be determined or adjusted based on the preferred lumber data toallow for the selected tree 304 to be harvested to meet thespecifications of the preferred lumber dimension data.

In some cases, a method of utilizing a forestry management device 100and/or one or more wearable computing devices 20 according to an exampleembodiment may be provided. FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of someactivities that may be associated with one example of such a method. Insome embodiments, the processing circuitry 110 (which may include aprocessor capable of executing instructions stored in a non-transitorycomputer readable medium/memory) may be configured to implement acontrol algorithm for the forestry management device 100 and/or the oneor more wearable computing devices 20 according to the method.

In an example embodiment, the method may receiving an indication of aselected tree at operation 504, receiving selected tree location dataassociated with the selected tree at operation 506, receiving operatorlocation data associated with an operator at operation 508, and causinginformation associated with the selected tree to be displayed on awearable computing device at operation 520.

In some embodiments, the method may include additional, optionaloperations, and/or the operations described above may be modified oraugmented. Some examples of modifications, optional operations, andaugmentations are described below, as indicated by dashed lines. In anexample embodiment, the method may include receiving tree dataassociated with at least one tree at operation 502, receiving other treelocation data associated with one or more other trees at operation 510,and generating a tree map based on the selected tree location and theother tree location data at operation 512. In some example embodiments,the method may include determining a felling direction at operation 514,determining a cutting position at operation 516, and determining acutting location on the selected tree at operation 518. The method mayalso include, in some example embodiments, receiving an indication of aworker location at operation 522, comparing the worker location to asafety threshold at operation 524, and causing a safety indication to bedisplayed on the wearable computing device at operation 526.

In an example embodiment, the forestry management device 100 maycomprise a processor (e.g. the processor 112) or processing circuitry110 configured to perform some or each of the operations (502-526)described above. The processor 112 may, for example, be configured toperform the operations (502-526) by performing hardware implementedlogical functions, executing stored instructions, or executingalgorithms for performing each of the operations. In some embodiments,the processor 112 or processing circuitry 110 may be further configuredfor additional operations or optional modifications to operations502-526. In this regard, for example, the processing circuitry isfurther configured to receive tree data associated with at least onetree. In an example embodiment, the processing circuitry is furtherconfigured to receive other tree location data associated with at leastone other tree and generate a tree map based on the selected treelocation data and the other tree location data. In some exampleembodiments, the processing circuitry is further configured to determinea felling direction for the selected tree and the information associatedwith the selected tree includes the felling direction. In an exampleembodiment, the processing circuitry is further configured to determinea cutting position for the operator and the information associated withthe selected tree includes the cutting position. In some exampleembodiments, the processing circuitry is further configured to determinea cutting location on the selected tree and the information associatedwith the selected tree includes the cutting location. In an exampleembodiment, the processing circuitry is further configured to receive anindication of a worker location and the information associated with theselected tree includes an indication of the worker location. In someexample embodiments, the information associated with the selected treeincludes a safety threshold. In an example embodiment, the processingcircuitry is further configured to compare the worker location to thesafety threshold.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forthherein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which theseinventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in theforegoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is tobe understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specificembodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments areintended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.Moreover, although the foregoing descriptions and the associateddrawings describe exemplary embodiments in the context of certainexemplary combinations of elements and/or functions, it should beappreciated that different combinations of elements and/or functions maybe provided by alternative embodiments without departing from the scopeof the appended claims. In this regard, for example, differentcombinations of elements and/or functions than those explicitlydescribed above are also contemplated as may be set forth in some of theappended claims. In cases where advantages, benefits or solutions toproblems are described herein, it should be appreciated that suchadvantages, benefits and/or solutions may be applicable to some exampleembodiments, but not necessarily all example embodiments. Thus, anyadvantages, benefits or solutions described herein should not be thoughtof as being critical, required or essential to all embodiments or tothat which is claimed herein. Although specific terms are employedherein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and notfor purposes of limitation.

That which is claimed:
 1. A forestry management device comprisingprocessing circuitry configured to: receive selected tree location dataassociated with a selected tree; receive operator location dataassociated with an operator from a location sensor of a wearablecomputing device, the wearable computing device comprising ahead-mounted display; and cause information associated with the selectedtree to be displayed on the head-mounted display of the wearablecomputing device based on the operator location data, the informationassociated with the selected tree comprising cutting information for useby the operator to cut the selected tree; wherein the cuttinginformation is displayed via augmented reality within a field of view ofthe operator as part of a visual overlay projection on the selectedtree.
 2. The forestry management device of claim 1, wherein theprocessing circuitry is further configured to receive tree dataassociated with the selected tree based on an image of the selected treecaptured by an imager.
 3. The forestry management device of claim 1,wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to determine afelling direction for the selected tree, wherein the cutting informationincludes the felling direction; wherein an indication of the fellingdirection is displayed via augmented reality as part of the visualoverlay projection within the field of view of the operator.
 4. Theforestry management device of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitryis further configured to determine a cutting position for the operator,wherein the cutting information includes the cutting position; whereinan indication of the cutting position for the operator is displayed viaaugmented reality as part of the visual overlay projection within thefield of view of the operator.
 5. The forestry management device ofclaim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured todetermine a cutting location on the selected tree, wherein the cuttinginformation includes the cutting location; wherein an indication of thecutting location is displayed via augmented reality as part of thevisual overlay projection within the field of view of the operator. 6.The forestry management device of claim 1, wherein the processingcircuitry is further configured to receive an indication of a workerlocation, wherein the information associated with the selected treeincludes an indication of the worker location.
 7. The forestrymanagement device of claim 6, wherein the information associated withthe selected tree includes a safety threshold.
 8. The forestrymanagement device of claim 7, wherein the processing circuitry isfurther configured to compare the worker location to the safetythreshold.
 9. The forestry management device of claim 8, wherein theprocessing circuitry is further configured to cause a safety indicationto be displayed on the wearable computing device via augmented realityas part of the visual overlay projection within the field of view of theoperator in response to failing to satisfy the safety threshold.
 10. Aforestry management system comprising: a wearable computing devicecomprising a location sensor and a head-mounted display; and a forestrymanagement device comprising processing circuitry configured to: receiveselected tree location data associated with a selected tree; receiveoperator location data associated with an operator from the locationsensor of the wearable computing device; and cause informationassociated with the selected tree to be displayed on the head-mounteddisplay of the wearable computing device based on the operator locationdata, the information associated with the selected tree comprisingcutting information for use by the operator to cut the selected tree;wherein the cutting information is displayed via augmented reality aspart of a visual overlay projection within a field of view of theoperator.
 11. The forestry management system of claim 10, wherein theprocessing circuitry is further configured to receive tree dataassociated with the selected tree based on an image of the selected treecaptured by an imager, wherein the selected tree is selected bycapturing the image of the selected tree.
 12. The forestry managementsystem of claim 11, wherein the processing circuitry is furtherconfigured to cause display of forest boundary data indicating adesignated cutting area or property boundary via augmented reality aspart of the visual overlay projection.
 13. The forestry managementsystem of claim 10, wherein the processing circuitry is furtherconfigured to: receive other tree location data associated with at leastone other tree; generate a tree map based on the selected tree locationdata and the other tree location data; and cause display of forestboundary data indicating a designated cutting area or property boundaryvia augmented reality as part of the visual overlay projection inassociation with the other tree that is within the field of view of theoperator.
 14. The forestry management system of claim 10, wherein theprocessing circuitry is further configured to determine a cuttinglocation on the selected tree and a felling direction for the selectedtree, wherein the cutting information includes the cutting location andthe felling direction; wherein an indication of the cutting location anda felling direction are displayed via augmented reality as part of thevisual overlay projection within the field of view of the operator. 15.A forestry management wearable computing device comprising: ahead-mounted display; a location sensor; and processing circuitryconfigured to: receive selected tree location data associated with aselected tree; receive operator location data associated with anoperator from the location sensor; and cause cutting information to bedisplayed, based on the operator location data, via augmented realitywithin a field of view of the operator as part of a visual overlayprojection on the selected tree on the head-mounted display, the cuttinginformation being displayed for use by the operator to cut the selectedtree.
 16. The forestry management wearable computing device of claim 15,wherein the head-mounted display is provided on a safety helmet visor.17. The forestry management wearable computing device of claim 15,wherein the processing circuitry is configured to cause an indication ofthe selected tree to be rendered as highlighting, outlining, orcontrasting of the selected tree as part of the visual overlayprojection.
 18. The forestry management wearable computing device ofclaim 15, further comprising a camera configured to capture images ofthe field of view of the operator for rendering the visual overlayprojection on the captured images of the field of view of the operator.19. The forestry management wearable computing device of claim 15,wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to determine afelling direction for the selected tree, wherein the cutting informationincludes the felling direction; wherein an indication of the fellingdirection is displayed via augmented reality as part of the visualoverlay projection within the field of view of the operator.
 20. Theforestry management wearable computing device of claim 15, wherein theprocessing circuitry is further configured to determine a cuttinglocation on the selected tree, wherein the cutting information includesthe cutting location; wherein an indication of the cutting location isdisplayed via augmented reality as part of the visual overlay projectionwithin the field of view of the operator.